Bottle-locking mechanism.



PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

P. A. DEGENER.

BOTTLE LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1906.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL A. DEGENER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-LOCKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application filed March 1, 1906. Serial No. 303,602. f

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL A. DEGENER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Bottle-Locking Mechanism,'of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bottle-locking mechanism, andhas for its object the production of a device that may be readilyapplied to the neck of a bottle and securely locked in position,inclosing the stopper, preventing access to the interior of the bottle.

A further object is the production of a device that consists of fewparts, can be cheaply manufactured, and one that is extremely difficultto remove from the bottle.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained bymy device, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device in placeover the top of the bottle. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line a a of Fig. 2looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a view of adetail, showing the locking mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe locking-dog.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

Referring by number to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a capprovided with a series of vertical slots 2, extending downwardly fromthe upper portion of the cap.

3 represents the bottom ring of the cap, to which are secured a seriesof engaging lugs 4. A circumferential spring 5 is secured near one endto the outer ring at 6, the extreme end being bent inwardly, forming anengaging lug 4 The free end of the spring extends beyond thebearing-lugs 4 and is seated in openings 7 in said lugs and having itsextreme end terminating in a toothed portion 8. Secured to the engaginglug 4 is a locking-dog 9, provided with a downwardly-extending finger 10and a locking-nut 11. The front of the outer ring is provided with akeyopening 12, and the opening is further protected by means of a caseor escutcheon 13, extending outwardly in front of the keyhole and formedwith an opening therein.

The operation of the device is as follows: The cap is slipped over thetop of a bottle (shown as 14) until the engaging lugs drop below theshoulder 15. The cap is then pressed together with the hand until thefaces 4* of the engaging lugs strike the neck of the bottle below theshoulder 15. At the same time the free end of the circumferential spring5 passes through the opening in the engaging lug 4", the teeth slippingover the bottom portion 11 of the spring locking-dog 9. When theengaging lugs are closely fitted against the neck of the bottle, thehand is removed and the lugs are kept in place by the spring locking-dog9 engaging the ratchet portion 8 of the spring. I have shown thelower-portion of the cap terminating in a horizontal flange 3 whichserves to form a bearing for the engaging lugs and further stiffen thestructure. This flange, however, is not a necessary portion of thedevice, as the lugs can be secured in position without the use thereof.When it is desired to remove the cap, a key 16 is inserted in the holeandturned until it engages the'downwardlyeprojecting finger 10 on thespring locking-dog. A further revolution of the key releases the dog andallows the spring 5 to return to its normal position, thus forcing theengaging lugs downwardly and allowing the cap to be readily removed. Inpractice I find it expedient to have the cap so constructed as that itwill tend to spring outwardly when the pressure from the spring isreleased,

thus making it easier to remove the cap from the bottle. I

In the device shown the slotted portions 2 represent portions of the capcut out, leaving openings. If I prefer, however, I may simply slit thecap without removing any portion, thus allowing the portions to overlapwhen the engaging lugs are pressed against the neck of the bottle.

A spring 17 may also be screwed at the top of the cap and adapted topress against the cork 18 of the bottle when the cork isin place.

I claim 1. A bottle-lock, comprising a cap adapted to cover the top of abottle, a series of engaging lugs secured thereto adapted to closelyengage the neck of the bottle, and means for locking said engaging meansin place.

2. A bottle-lock, comprising a spring-cap adapted to cover the top of abottle, a series of engaging lugs secured thereto and adapted to closelyengage the neck of the bottle, a metallic ring, and means for lockingsaid lugs in lace. p 3. A bottle-lock, comprising a spring-cap, a seriesof engaging lugs secured thereto, a

collapsible ring secured to the bottom of said cap, and means forlocking said engaging lugs against the neck of a bottle.

4. A bottle-lock, comprising a spring-cap, a series of engaging lugssecured to the bottom thereof, a circular spring, one end of which issecured to said cap and circumferentially engaging said lugs, and meansfor locking said lugs against the neck of the bottle.

5. A bottle-lock, comprising a spring-cap, a series of slotted engaginglugs secured to the bottom thereof, a circular spring, one end of Whichis secured to said cap and circumferentially engaging the slots in saidlugs, and means for locking said lugs against the neck of the bottle.

6. A bottle-lock, comprising a springcap, a series of slotted engaginglugs secured to the bottom thereof, a circular spring, one end of Whichis secured to said cap and circumferentially engaging the slots in saidlugs, and means for locking said lugs against the neck of the bottle,said means comprising a series of teeth on the end of said circularspring and an engaging dog.

7. A bottle-lock, comprising a spring-cap, a series of slotted engaginglugs secured to the bottom thereof, a circular spring, one end of Whichis secured to said cap and circumferentially engaging the slots in saidlugs, and means for locking said lugs against the provided with adownwardly-extending fin- 8. A bottle-lock, comprising a spring-capadapted to cover the top of a bottle, a series of engaging lugs securedthereto and adapted to closely engage the neck of the bottle, a metallicring, and means for locking said lugs in place, and a spring adapted tobear against the cork of the bottle.

9. A bottle-lock comprising a spring-cap, a spring adapted to bearagainst the cap of the cork, a series of slotted engaging lugs securedto the bottom thereof, a circular spring, one end of Which is secured tosaid cap and circumferentially engaging the slots in said lugs, andmeans for locking said lugs against the neck of the bottle, said meanscomprising a series of teeth on the end of said circular spring and anengaging dog, said dog being provided With a downwardly-extendingfinger.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 24th day afFebruary, 1906.

PAUL A. DEGENER.

Witnesses:

F. H. DRURY, S. LEWIS.

